Robotics revolutionizing surgery: The Intuitive Surgical "Da Vinci" system

The introduction of laparoscopy in surgery offered clear advantages to patients. Surgeons, however, had to deal with various types of problems inherent to the essential differences in surgical approach. One of these problems, reduced dexterity, was solved at the end of the previous decade by the introduction of robotic surgery systems. Discusses the backgrounds for development of the Intuitive Surgical "Da Vinci" systems and gives an overview of current status and functionality.